The Second Lady Southvale Read Free Page A

for although he’d angered her at first, that was most certainly no longer the case.
    ‘I’m relieved to hear you say so, for the last thing I wished to do was tread upon any sensitive toes.’
    She was curious. ‘Why did you come? This is a Fouth of July ball, Britain isn’t exactly popular here at the moment, and quite a number of my parents’ guests happen to believe that war is the only way to settle the differences between our two countries. Your envoy, Mr Foster, has prudently stayed at the legation tonight, but you’ve taken it upon yourself to come here. Why?’
    ‘For a very selfish and personal reason, if the truth be known,’ he murmured.
    ‘I can’t even begin to imagine what such a reason might be, sir.’
    ‘No, I’m sure you can’t.’ He smiled at her. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re a remarkably beautiful and engaging young lady?’ he asked suddenly.
    The apparent change of tack caught her off-guard. ‘I – I beg your pardon?’
    ‘Come now, surely the American male hasn’t been so remiss as to neglect to pay you the compliments you’re due?’
    Color rushed into her cheeks again. ‘You flatter me, I think,’ she replied in embarrassment, thoroughly disconcerted by her continuing susceptibility to everything about him.
    ‘No, Miss Carberry,’ he said softly, ‘I’m not flattering you at all. I’m being very direct and honest. You are the reason I’ve come here tonight.’
    She stared at him.
    He held her gaze. ‘This morning I happened to look out of the legation in Seven Buildings, and saw an open landau drivefrom Nineteenth Street into Pennsylvania Avenue. There was a young lady seated inside, wearing a lime-green muslin pelisse and matching gown. She had golden hair and she twirled a frilled white parasol above her head. I thought her the most delightful creature I’d ever seen, and I made it my business to find out who she was. The Carberrys are very well-known in Washington, and it didn’t take long to learn your name.’
    She didn’t know what to say. Her cheeks felt as if they were on fire, and her pulse had quickened almost unbearably. She looked quickly around the terrace and saw that many glances were still being directed surreptitiously toward her and her noteworthy companion.
    He smiled a little. ‘If I’m embarrassing you, you must forgive me, Miss Carberry, but you did ask me why I came here tonight.’ His blue eyes moved slowly over her flushed face. ‘By pure chance I was told that your brother was to be found at a certain gaming house, and so I took myself there in order to make his acquaintance.’
    ‘Does – does John know why you wished to come here tonight?’
    ‘No. He invited me because it’s his belief war is only encouraged if the protagonists refuse to associate.’
    She looked away. ‘I’ll warrant the cognac had something to do with it.’
    ‘Possibly. Whatever his reason, I didn’t argue, but took him up immediately on his invitation. The rest you know.’
    For a long moment she was silent, but then she looked at him again. ‘Are you always this direct, Lord Southvale?’
    ‘It isn’t something I make a habit of, Miss Carberry,’ he said softly, ‘but I tell you this, I’ve never before so desired an introduction that I’d resort to any means to acquire it. I saw you, and I had to know you, it’s as simple as that.’
    She stared at him, her heart pounding wildly in her breast. None of this was really happening, it couldn’t be happening … But it was happening, and spellbinding emotions were arousingthoughts and feelings she’d never known before.
    His hand moved to briefly touch hers. ‘Have you nothing to say?’
    ‘I don’t know what to say,’ she whispered, a shiver of pleasure trembling through her just at the fleeting contact.
    ‘Haven’t you felt anything since our meeting?’ he asked. ‘Are you immune to me?’
    ‘No woman could ever be immune to you, Lord Southvale.’
    A faint smile played on his